National Security Agency

Chronology of Coverage

Mar. 31, 2015

Washington, DC, authorities report shooting of two men, one fatally, on grounds of National Security Agency at Fort Meade, Md; NSA security personnel say vehicle driven by two young men sped toward agency campus and ignored instructions from police to stop; officers fired on vehicle after driver, whose identity has not been disclosed, crashed into an NSA police car. MORE

Mar. 10, 2015

Op-Ed article by Wikipedia founder Jimmy Wales and Wikimedia Foundation executive director Lila Tretikov explains that lawsuit filed by foundation against National Security Agency takes issue with agency's surveillance of Wikipedia users; warns that pervasive surveillance has chilling effect on free exchange of knowledge, which can only occur when privacy is treated as essential right. MORE

Mar. 5, 2015

Former American intelligence contractor Edward J Snowden says he would like to return to United States after two years asylum in Russia and is seeking legal and impartial trial. MORE

Feb. 26, 2015

French-Dutch digital security company Gemalto says it believes American and British intelligence services hacked into company's networks over period of two years, beginning in 2010, in order to collect mobile phone records; report is based on records obtained by former National Security Agency contractor Edward Snowden. MORE

Feb. 26, 2015

Editorial examines implications of NSA document showing escalation of cyberattacks between United States and Iran, with the latter significantly stepping up its capabilities in recent years; calls for acceleration of international efforts to negotiate limits on the cyberarms race, which is presenting ever greater dangers to privacy and vital institutions. MORE

Feb. 23, 2015

Newly revealed National Security Agency document shows sharp increase in use of cyberweapons by United States and Iran against each other, both for espionage and sabotage. MORE

Feb. 3, 2015

Obama administration announces rules that will require White House oversight of National Security Agency's surveillance of foreign leaders and will compel intelligence analysts to delete private information collected about Americans and foreigners that has no intelligence value. MORE

Jan. 28, 2015

Declassified documents reveal Federal Judge Roger Vinson of Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court permitted National Security Agency to gather information from foreigners' emails and phone calls before Congress enacted 2007 Protect America Act; documents were given to New York Times as result of Freedom of Information lawsuit. MORE

Jan. 19, 2015

United States government was able to quickly identify North Korea as source of cyberattack against Sony Pictures Entertainment because of National Security Agency's careful infiltration of country's computer networks that began in 2010; previous spear fishing attacks with which attackers gained access to Sony computers were noticed but disregarded; some cybersecurity experts remain skeptical that North Korea is responsible. MORE

Jan. 16, 2015

Federal study points to lack of viable alternative to bulk collection of telephone call records as means of intercepting communication of terrorists, even as civil rights advocates contend that such practices are intrusive; findings, which cast doubt on technological solution to problem, come year after Pres Obama announced moderate reforms to National Security Agency collection practices. MORE

Jan. 12, 2015

Justice Dept's classified study reveals that FBI has from 2008 onwards become increasingly involved with running government's surveillance program, which is most often associated with National Security Agency; redacted version of report has been made available due to Freedom of Information Act suit filed by The New York Times. MORE

Nov. 20, 2014

Senate Republicans use filibuster to block consideration of bill to end and replace National Security Agency phone records program; data collection could continue even if law expires in 2015. MORE

Nov. 19, 2014

Senate Republicans succeed in blocking overhaul of National Security Agency program that collects bulk records of Americans' phone calls by vote of 58 to 42, two short of passage; critics of bill say program is critical tool to fight terrorism, while supporters hold it is affront on personal liberties. MORE

Nov. 5, 2014

Conservative legal activist Larry Klayman is urging federal appeals court in Washington to strike down the National Security Agency’s program that collects Americans’ phone records in bulk; Justice Dept insists that the once-secret program is designed only to identify terrorists and their associates. MORE

Sep. 27, 2014

Apple's iPhone 6 is first smartphone of post-Snowden generation that will disrupt investigative abilities of National Security Agency and nation's law enforcement agencies; phone encrypts emails, photos and contacts based on a complex mathematical algorithm that uses a code created by, and unique to, the phone’s user and that Apple says it will not possess. MORE

Sep. 17, 2014

Op-Ed article by author James Bamford examines question of whether data gathered by the National Security Agency about Americans with Arab ties had been given to Israeli military for use against Palestinians; notes that veterans of organization and former NSA contractor Edward J Snowden say that is the case. MORE

Sep. 12, 2014

Court documents show that federal government threatened Yahoo in 2008 with fines of $250,000 a day if company did not immediately comply with secret court order to turn over data about its foreign customers; threat adds new details to public history of Yahoo's unsuccessful challenge of federal requests for warrantless surveillance of its foreigner users. MORE

Aug. 14, 2014

Former State Dept official John Napier Tye filed whistle-blower complaint in April arguing that National Security Agency's broader data collection practices abroad, authorized by Reagan-era presidential directive, violates Americans' Fourth Amendment rights; complaint, filed as Congress considers amending act on how NSA operates domestically, focuses attention on how agency operates abroad under different rules. MORE

Aug. 8, 2014

Russia grants Edward J Snowden three-year residence permit; former National Security Agency contractor leaked classified government documents and then fled to country. MORE

Jul. 25, 2014

Sen Patrick J Leahy says he will file new version of bill aimed at ending National Security Agency’s bulk phone records collection program after extensive negotiations with Obama administration and privacy groups; some privacy advocates who opposed House-proposed bill as too watered down say they back Leahy's measure. MORE

Jul. 21, 2014

Guardian newspaper publishes interview with former National Security Agency contractor Edward J Snowden, who says oversight of surveillance programs are so weak that members of United States military working at spy agency sometimes shared sexually explicit photos they intercepted; also says British government often pioneered most invasive surveillance programs because its intelligence services operate with fewer restrictions. MORE

Jul. 12, 2014

Newly disclosed emails reveal that Obama administration knew in advance that British government was planning in July 2013 to force The Guardian to destroy hard drives containing copies of documents leaked by Edward J Snowden; decision had been praised by National Security Agency official Richard H Ledgett Jr. MORE

Jul. 12, 2014

Russia will most likely extend temporary asylum of Edward J Snowden, former National Security Agency contractor who leaked agency documents. MORE

Jul. 10, 2014

Report released by The Intercept online magazine, based on documents provided by Edward J Snowden, identifies five American Muslims, including the leader of a civil rights group, as having been subjected to surveillance by National Security Agency; documents arouse anger among Muslim civil-rights groups, which say there is no basis for the apparent spying. MORE

Jul. 7, 2014

Obama administration officials say National Security Agency routinely filters out correspondence of Americans that has no intelligence value as it targets suspected terrorists globally; statement is response to new disclosures by the Washington Post suggesting that roughly 9 out of 10 agency-intercepted communications involve people who are not direct targets of surveillance. MORE

Jul. 3, 2014

Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board that sharply criticized the collection of the phone records of Americans by National Security Agency comes to starkly different conclusion about agency’s exploitation of Internet connections in United States to monitor foreigners communicating with one another abroad; holds program is largely in compliance with both Constitution and surveillance law Congress passed six years ago. MORE

Jun. 30, 2014

Adm Michael S Rogers, newly installed director of National Security Agency, says in interview that while fallout from secret documents leaked by Edward J Snowden has been serious, crisis is ultimately manageable one; describes series of steps agency is taking to ensure large-scale leak cannot occur again, but warns that it is impossible to fully safeguard against intrusion by dedicated insider. MORE

Jun. 21, 2014

House of Representatives votes to bar National Security Agency from looking for Americans’ communications without a warrant within a database of emails and phone calls it gathers while targeting foreigners. MORE

Jun. 17, 2014

Vice Pres Joseph R Biden Jr arrives in Brazil, seeking an opening during World Cup soccer tournament to thaw relations with country, which soured after revelations of National Security Agency's surveillance practices; makes it clear ahead of meeting with Pres Dilma Rousseff that Obama administration is hoping to discuss range of issues. MORE

Jun. 7, 2014

Internet giants are racing to encrypt more data and erect new security protocols to prevent the type of government surveillance that was exposed by Edward J Snowden; moves by Google, Facebook, Microsoft and others are making it far more difficult--and expensive--for National Security Agency and other intelligence organizations to pierce their systems. MORE

Jun. 1, 2014

National Security Agency is harvesting huge numbers of images of people from communications that it intercepts through its global surveillance operations for use in sophisticated facial recognition programs; agency's reliance on facial recognition technology has grown significantly as it has turned to new software to exploit flood of images included in communications. MORE

May. 30, 2014

National Security Agency releases what it says is sole internal email from Edward J Snowden before he fled country with trove of agency secrets; insists message undercuts Snowden's whistle-blower claim that he protested legality of surveillance programs before he released any documents he stole to journalists. MORE

May. 29, 2014

Edward J Snowden, in interview with Brian Williams of NBC News, says that he still considers himself to be an American patriot even after leaking thousands of classified documents; in hourlong interview, Snowden tries to justify his actions and explain why he accepted refuge from Pres Vladimir V Putin of Russia. MORE

May. 23, 2014

House of Representatives passes legislation aiming to end National Security Agency's bulk phone records program that had prompted intense domestic debate about privacy and civil liberties. MORE

May. 23, 2014

Editorial contends bill passed by House to limit domestic spying program falls far short of promises made by lawmakers in the wake of revelations of former National Security Agency contractor Edward Snowden; maintains Senate could yet fix the law's flaws and says there is still time for Congress to show it is serious about reining in nation's runaway spies. MORE

May. 21, 2014

Every example of the National Security Agency spying on corporations around world is being used by China to argue that Obama administration is giving new meaning to capitalistic hypocrisy by indicting members of People's Liberation Army cyberwarfare unit; American officials insist United States never acts on behalf of American companies, but do not deny that US routinely spies to advance American economic advantage, as part of broad national security strategy. MORE

May. 21, 2014

Leaders of both parties in House of Representatives, at Obama administration's request, have changed USA Freedom Act, bill that restricts power of government to obtain Americans’ records in bulk; several civil liberties groups that had backed a previous version argue that changes weaken limits in a way that leaves door open for government, through National Security Agency, to obtain enormous volumes of records. MORE

May. 15, 2014

Declassified documents from Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court say that in 2009 and 2010, a telephone company raised questions about legality of then-secret National Security Agency program that is systematically collecting records of Americans' calling habits. MORE

May. 14, 2014

Democratic Sens Mark Udall and Ron Wyden accuse the Obama administration of seeking to 'ignore or justify' statements it made to the Supreme Court about warrantless surveillance by the National Security Agency. MORE

May. 13, 2014

Glenn Greenwald book No Place to Hide: Edward Snowden, the NSA, and the US Surveillance State notes documents that reveal Susan E Rice, then American United Nations ambassador, asked National Security Agency in 2010 for intelligence about Security Council members; documents, leaked by former NSA contractor Edward J Snowden, reveal wider net of United States' spying on envoys. MORE

May. 9, 2014

House Intelligence Committee embraces Judiciary Committee bill that would replace National Security Agency's program for collecting bulk records about Americans' phone calls. MORE

May. 7, 2014

Senior members of House Judiciary and Intelligence committees agree on similar but rival bills that would restrict National Security Agency’s ability to collect Americans’ phone call data in bulk; Judiciary Committee is expected to pass a compromise version of bill sponsored by Wisconsin Rep James Sensenbrenner. MORE

May. 3, 2014

German Chancellor Angela Merkel emphasizes her country's continued opposition to United States surveillance practices during meeting with Pres Obama that was intended to mend fences; also says it is too soon to return to 'business as usual' following disclosures that NSA had eavesdropped on her phone calls; cordial but strained encounter comes as Merkel and Obama seek to project unified front against Russia’s aggression in Ukraine. MORE

May. 3, 2014

News analysis; debate over data collection and surveillance of American citizens has shifted its focus from activities carried out by National Security Agency to practices of Silicon Valley companies; question remains whether restrictions imposed on NSA will spill over to technology industry. MORE

May. 2, 2014

German officials say effort to remake intelligence relationship between United States and Germany has collapsed; effort began after it was disclosed that National Security Agency was taping Chancellor Angela Merkel’s cellphone; officials say there will be no broad intelligence sharing or 'no-spy' agreement in place between two countries when Merkel arrives at the White House for upcoming visit. MORE

Apr. 29, 2014

Negotiations appear bogged down nearly a year after Edward J Snowden retained well-known Washington defense lawyer Plato Cacheris to negotiate a plea deal with federal prosecutors over Snowden's release of classified data. MORE

Apr. 29, 2014

White House publishes on its website a series of questions it asks in deciding when to make public the discovery of major flaws in computer security; item is posted by White House cybersecurity coordinator Michael Daniel, and appears to be distilled from more detailed classified document giving guidance to National Security Agency, Federal Bureau of Investigation and others who often exploit flaws in Internet security. MORE

Apr. 26, 2014

Newly declassified documents show that Federal District Court Judge Rosemary M Collyer rejected a major telephone provider's request to have Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court reconsider its approval of National Security Agency's bulk phone-records collection; decision upheld earlier ruling that there was no Fourth Amendment protections for metadata. MORE

In response to a Freedom of Information Act lawsuit by The New York Times, the Justice Department has partially declassified this report about the F.B.I.’s involvement in administering the warrantless surveillance program authorized by the FISA Amendments Act. When the report was completed in September 2012, it was entirely classified.

In response to a Freedom of Information Act lawsuit by The New York Times, the Justice Department has declassified additional portions of these two inspector general reports about the government’s use of Section 215 of the Patriot Act, which is the legal basis for the once-secret National Security Agency program that systematically collects records in bulk about Americans’ domestic and international phone calls.

In response to a Freedom of Information Act lawsuit filed by The New York Times, the FBI has declassified additional portions of a 2010 inspector general report about “exigent letters” and other informal requests for telephone records. The new version contains about 125 words or passages that were previously redacted.

Earlier this year, John Napier Tie, a former State Department official who worked on Internet issues, filed an inspector general whistleblower complaint alleging that the National Security Agency’s collection and storage of American communications abroad under Executive Order 12333 violates the Fourth Amendment. He also took his concerns to the House and Senate Intelligence Committees. He received these two letters back; he did not hear back from the Senate panel.